The College of The Bahamas :: Oakes Field :: P.O. Box N-4912 :: Nassau, The Bahamas :: Tel (242) 302.4300 :: Email cob@cob.edu.bs

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Academic Advisement
The academic units assign each of their students an academic advisor from their major area of study. Advisors serve as guides to help students to fulfil their academic goals and requirements. Their role is to assist with planning student course schedules and keeping their advisees abreast of changes and/or new requirements in their area of study.

Advisement Period
As each semester draws to a close, there are advisement periods for the following semester. These advisement periods enable students to make the best choices of courses to complete their programmes of study. There is also a special advisement day for new students at the beginning of each semester. Those who miss advisement at the end of the semester have to be advised during the late registration period and pay a late registration fee.

For further information on advisement, contact the relevant academic unit or the Office of Academic Affairs at telephone (242) 302-4309
Registration
Overview
Registration is important to students in two ways: The process identifies students as being a part of The College of The Bahamas and is essential to their progress towards graduation and a degree award.

Registration consists of two major activities for students: planning their overall degree programme and registering each semester for the courses desired.

Planning the Degree Programme
Identifying the appropriate courses is one of the most important things students can do to ensure on-time graduation. To aid in planning, advising assistance is available to students throughout their college careers-beginning during the New Student Orientation Programme. Students generally find that academic advisors are their best resource for progressing correctly and efficiently through their programme. Students should make an appointment to see their advisor every semester.

Registration takes place at the beginning of each academic session, but The College affords students the opportunity to register early towards the end of a preceding session.

Student Responsibility
Students are responsible for knowing and adhering to the policies, deadlines, and procedures contained in this Catalogue and current course schedule. Most potential advisement and registration problems can be averted by careful reading of the various publications. Students may receive credit only for those courses for which they are properly registered and assume academic and financial responsibility, unless they officially cancel registration according to the established policies and deadlines.

Registration Requirements
Registration requirements differ, depending upon a student's status with The College:

New Students
To register for the first time at The College, new students are required to produce the following:
  • Permit to Register
  • Course Request Form
  • Certified copies of BGCSE results and other relevant examination results, e.g. Placement Test results
  • All correspondence from the College: e.g. acceptance letter, approved transfer credit requests etc.

Returning Students
  • Complete copies of transcripts
  • Advisement form with appropriate faculty signature
  • Copies of Course Selection
  • Where applicable: Change of Major and Course Change/Withdrawal forms
  • All other correspondence from the College relating to student status
  • Valid ID Card
  • Library Clearance
  • Form of payment-cash or certified cheque/money order made payable to 'The College of The Bahamas' for tuition and fees

Early Registration
Early registration occurs three times each academic year:
June - for the Fall Semester
December - for the Spring Semester
April - for the Summer Session

During early registration, returning students are expected to sign up for the courses for which they have been advised (see Academic Calendar) for the following semester. New students register in person at The College during the normal registration period. Registration information is forwarded with the matriculating student's letter of acceptance.

Late Registration, Drop/Add and Withdrawals
In the Fall and Spring Semesters students may, without academic penalty, add courses, change programme or register late up to five (5) lecture days after the official start of classes. In the Summer Session late registration is permitted only up to one (1) lecture day after the official start of classes.

Adding Courses
All enrolments must be processed by the end of the 'add' period through official registration procedures. Students will not receive credit for courses unless their names are on the official class registers and final grade sheets. Even if a student has attended all the classes prescribed for a course, but is not listed on the official register through no fault of The College, he or she will not be awarded the credits associated with that course.

After the date for adding courses, 'add' actions are limited to unusual circumstances beyond the student's control, and require approval by the dean of the academic department offering the course.

Dropping a Course or Withdrawing
Dropping a course or withdrawing from a programme without academic penalty is permitted up to thirty (30) days before the end of the Fall and Spring Semesters and up to fifteen (15) lecture days before the end of a Summer Session. To do so, a withdrawal form must be filled and the completed form returned to the Business Office. In this way the student avoids academic penalty.

Students are advised to drop by the end of the 'drop' period those courses that they do not intend to complete. Registration is not canceled if a student fails to drop courses properly or attend classes, unless sanctioned by special dispensation. All classes for which a student is enroled past the drop deadline will remain part of the official academic record. After the date listed in the Calendar for dropping courses has passed, approval for withdrawal is granted only for nonacademic reasons by the student's academic dean.

Registration changes must be completed within the scheduled adjustment period, as indicated in the official Academic Calendar. Course change (dropping or adding courses) requires the following:
  • All documents required for registration
  • A completed Course Request Form
  • Course Change (Drop/Add) Fee
  • Tuition payment for Course(s) added

No change of registration transaction is complete until it is processed by the appropriate College officers.

Service Fees
Late Registration: $150.00
Drop/Add: $20.00
Overloads
Students registering for more than eight (8) hours for summer semester session or for more than eighteen (18) semester hours for the Fall or Spring Semester must obtain permission, with the appropriate signature, from the relevant academic officer at the time of registration.

Restrictions/Holds
Students who have holds on registration, owing to overdue payments or failure to meet other obligations to The College are responsible for clearing these prior to any attempt to register. These holds tend to arise from unpaid library fines and overdue tuition payments.

Dates and locations for registration, course changes and withdrawal from classes are posted in the student newspaper and on College notice boards, published in the daily newspapers and broadcast in community announcements on radio.

See also 'Course Registration Cancellation' and 'Cancellation of Classes and Discontinuation of Courses/Programme'.

Class Attendance
All students are expected to attend, on time, each class meeting of all courses for which they have registered. Punctuality, reliability in attendance and attention to assignments constitute three of the most significant factors that contribute to success at college. Failure to be punctual may result in a lowered grade or cancellation of course registration. Failure to attend classes may result in cancellation of course registration.

Course Registration Cancellation
An instructor may request that a student's registration in a course be cancelled if he or she
  • fails to be punctual for 25 percent of the class sessions by mid-semester break;
  • fails to attend the first two class sessions following the end of the late registration period; or,
  • fails to attend at least 75 percent of the class sessions by mid-semester break.

Course registration cancellation results in the removal of the course from the student's academic record (transcript). Prior to the official date for withdrawal without academic penalty, instructors must submit a completed Course Registration Cancellation Form, along with a copy of the Class Register, to the relevant academic dean/executive director through the chair/head of the academic unit responsible for the course.

The academic dean/executive director notifies the student in writing of the course cancellation.

Assignments
In addition to the work done in College hours, students are advised to devote an absolute minimum of 20 hours per week to home study assignments. Those students who wish to achieve an above-average degree of achievement in their coursework are expected to devote more hours than the minimum requirements.

Students are personally responsible for their assignments and knowledge of due dates, WHETHER OR NOT they were in attendance on the day such work and dates were given. Instructors are under no obligation to accept late assignments.

Dismissal
Any behaviour in violation of any rules and regulations of The College of The Bahamas is cause for dismissal from any class or from The College.

Any student who demonstrates the inability to profit by instruction or an unwillingness to comply with class procedures, or whose behaviour interferes with the educational progress of other students, shall be reported to the dean/executive director by the instructor. Action by the dean/executive director may include removal from any class or programme, or dismissal from The College.

Cancellation of Classes and Discontinuation of Courses / Programmes
The College reserves the right to cancel classes that are undersubscribed. Normally, every effort will be made to cancel classes prior to the start of the late registration period and to contact students affected by the cancellation. Affected students should consult their academic advisors to select substitute courses.

In response to curricular reform or national need and subject to the availability of resources, The College reserves the right to discontinue specific courses and/or programmes.

Period of Candidacy
The period of candidacy for College of The Bahamas degrees, diplomas and certificates is as follows:
Degree, Diploma, Certificate   Status     Number of Years
Bachelor   Full-time
  Part-time
    6
    10
Associate   Full-time
  Part-time
    4
    6
Diploma (1 year)   Full-time
  Part-time
    2
    4
Certificate (1 year)   Full-time
  Part-time
    2
    4
Certificate (2 years)   Full-time
  Part-time
    4
    8
Extension of Candidacy
Students who are nearing the end of their POC may petition to have their candidacy extended. Students will be ineligible for an extension of candidacy if they have failed to complete at least three quarters of the programme of study.

At least one semester prior to the end of candidacy, students may petition for an extension of candidacy by submitting a completed Period of Candidacy Extension Form to their academic advisor who will forward the petition to the relevant academic dean/executive director through the chair/head of the academic unit responsible for the programme.

The dean/executive director will notify the student, in writing, of the decision regarding the petition as well as the chair/head of the academic unit, the Records Department and the Academic Board.

In those instances where a request for an extension of candidacy has been denied, students may appeal the decision, through the dean/executive director, to Deans Council. The decision of Deans Council is final.

Cancellation of Candidacy
Students who do not complete, within the allotted time, all requirements for the programme for which they have registered will have their candidacy in the programme cancelled and all academic records closed.
Academic Status
The status of students enroled in degree programmes at the College may be designated as 'full-time' or 'part-time'.

Full-time status is maintained in the Fall and Spring Semesters when students register for 12 - 18 credit hours. Students who wish to take more than 18 credit hours per semester must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 and must get permission from the relevant academic dean/executive director.

Part-time status is maintained in the Fall and Spring Semesters when students register for a maximum of 9 credit hours. Students who wish to take more than 9 credit hours per semester must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 and must get permission from the relevant academic dean/executive director.

During each of the Summer Sessions, full-time and part-time students may register for 6 - 9 credit hours. Students who wish to take more than 9 credit hours per session must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 and must get permission from the relevant academic dean/executive director.

Grading
All College of The Bahamas courses require the assessment of students. Assessment is determined by any combination of assignments, tests, papers, laboratory exercises, class participation, projects, portfolios or examinations.

Within the first week of class, students must be provided with a copy of the course outline specifying the assessment criteria and weighting approved by Academic Board. They must also be informed, in writing, of the description, scheduling and weighting of assessment items that will count towards the final course grade.

The final grade awarded and the semester hour credits earned for each course will be recorded for each student on a permanent student record (transcript).

Grading System
The College of The Bahamas uses letter grades and the four-point maximum grading scale. Grade 'A' is the highest possible grade and grades below D are considered failing. Plus (+) or minus (-) symbols indicate grades that fall above or below the letter grades. Grades of 'A+' and 'D-' are not used.

Grade points are awarded on the basis of the final grade assigned by the course instructor. No grade points will be awarded for an F grade. The grade point average (GPA) is determined by dividing the grade points obtained by the credit hours attempted (not credit hours earned). The grade point average is determined by using only work attempted at The College of The Bahamas. The cumulative GPA is determined by calculating all college work attempted. College preparatory (upgrading) courses are not included in calculations of credit hours earned, credit hours attempted, or GPA.

The following indicates the grade points earned on the basis of the grade assigned and are used to designate final course grades:

Grade A     Grade Points: 4     Number Range: 90-100

Mastery of subject matter, principles, techniques and application. Superior ability to organise, analyse, and synthesise and integrate ideas. Reliability in attendance and attention to assignments.

Grade A-     Grade Points: 3.75     Number Range: 85-89

Superior knowledge of subject matter, principles, techniques and application. Superior ability to organise, analyse, synthesise and integrate ideas. Reliability in attendance and attention to assignments.
Grade B+     Grade Points: 3.50     Number Range: 80-84

Outstanding competence in subject matter, principles, techniques and application. Outstanding ability to organise, analyse, synthesise and integrate ideas. Reliability in attendance and attention to assignments.

Grade B     Grade Points: 3.00     Number Range: 75-79

High level of competence in subject matter, principles, techniques and application. High level ability to organise, analyse, synthesise and integrate ideas. Reliability in attendance and attention to assignments.

Grade B-     Grade Points: 2.75     Number Range: 70-74

Above average in competence in subject matter, principles, techniques and application. Above average in ability to organise, analyse, synthesise and integrate ideas. Reliability in attendance and attention to assignments.

Grade C+     Grade Points: 2.50     Number Range: 65-69

More than satisfactory competence in subject matter, principles, techniques and application. More than satisfactory ability to organise, analyse, synthesise and integrate ideas. Reliability in attendance and attention to assignments.

Grade C     Grade Points: 2.00     Number Range: 60-64

Satisfactory competence in subject matter, principles, techniques and application. Satisfactory ability to organise, analyse, synthesise and integrate ideas. Reliability in attendance and attention to assignments.

Grade C-     Grade Points: 1.75     Number Range: 55-59

Moderate competence in subject matter, principles, techniques and application. Moderate ability to organise, analyse, synthesise and integrate ideas. Reliability in attendance and attention to assignments.

Grade D     Grade Points: 1.00     Number Range: 50-54

Minimal knowledge of subject matter, principles, techniques and application. Barely passing performance overall. Reliability in attendance and attention to assignments.

Grade F     Grade Points: 0     Number Range: 0-49

Inadequate knowledge of subject matter, principles, techniques and application. Inadequate ability to organise, analyse, synthesise and integrate ideas. Unfulfilled requirements.

I     Not Included     Incomplete

A temporary notation awarded to a student receiving a passing grade for coursework but for whom extenuating circumstances prevent completion of the remainder of the coursework prior to the submission of the final grade. See Note 1 following.

W     Not Included     Withdrawn

A notation reflecting a student's withdrawal from a course. See Notes 2 following.)

XE     Not Included     Extraordinary Examination

A temporary notation following approval of a request for an extraordinary sitting of the final examination.

AU     Not Included     Audit

A notation reflecting that the course was not taken for credit. AU may not be awarded to students who have registered in a course for credit.

AG     Not Included     Aegrotat

Awarded on the basis of satisfactory completion of a major part to the course. Student must be unable to complete course requirements owing to major illness.

P     Not Included     Pass

Awarded for a course taken by Challenge Examination and any course approved for Pass/Fail status by the Academic Board.

S     Not Included     Satisfactory

Awarded for successful completion of a non-credit course.

U     Not Included     Unsatisfactory

Awarded for failure in a non-credit course.

T     Not Included     Transfer

Awarded for credits transferred from another institution.

V     Not Included     Exemption

Award on the basis of success in an internal examination or prior learning or professional experience.
Notes
  1. Incomplete
    An Incomplete Contract Form detailing the work to be submitted for completion as well as the deadline for such work must be signed by the student, instructor and chair/academic head of the examining academic unit and submitted to the Records Department with the grade sheet for the course.

    An 'I' grade that is not changed by the instructor by the end of the next regular semester automatically converts to an F.
  2. Withdrawal
    A 'W' is a notation assigned by the Records Department reflecting an administrative action initiated by the student in accordance with regulations governing withdrawal from a course. 'W' may not be assigned by the Instructor. The student must submit a completed Course Withdrawal Form, along with proof of payment of the requisite fee, to the Records Department prior to the date specified in the official College Calendar for the particular academic semester/session. Credit can be earned only upon successful repetition of the course.

Correction of Grade Errors
A course instructor may not change a grade after it has been filed with the Records Department, except in the case of clerical error.

Grade corrections must be indicated on a Grade Change Form that is signed by the instructor, the chair/head of the academic unit in which the course was offered and the relevant academic dean/executive director.

Grade corrections must be processed within one year of the end of the semester/session in which the original grade was awarded. In extenuating circumstances, exceptions to the one-year limit for correction of grade errors may be considered by petition to the academic dean/executive director.

Final Grade Appeals
Once final grades have been assigned and transcripts issued, a student with evidence that an incorrect or inappropriate grade has been assigned should make every attempt to resolve the matter with the course Instructor. A student may seek a grade appeal on the following basis
  • clerical error made in calculating the final grade;
  • standards or criteria used to determine the grade were inconsistent with the Academic Board approved course outline and distributed at the beginning of the semester/session;
  • standards or criteria used to determine the grade were inconsistent with those applied to other students in the course; and assignment of the grade was based on factors other than the student's academic performance.

If the student and the instructor are unable to resolve the matter, the student should submit a completed Final Grade Appeal Form along with proof of payment for the grade appeal to the chair/head of the academic unit responsible for the course within one regular semester of the posting of the final grade. The chair/academic head's written decision will be rendered within 10 working days of receipt of the appeal.

The student may appeal the decision of the unit chair/head by forwarding a copy of the Final Grade Appeal Form and the decision to the relevant academic dean/executive director within 5 working days of the decision. The written decision of the academic dean/executive director will be rendered within 10 working days. This is the final step in the appeal process. At the branch campuses, the procedure is identical except that the academic area coordinator substitutes for the chair/academic head.

Grade Records
Course grade records (the forms on which final grades are recorded for a specific class) are College records which must be maintained for at least five years after the end of the semester/session. Heads of the academic units responsible for the courses are charged with identifying an appropriate storage location. The chair/head of unit (or other officially designated person) and the course Instructor will have ready access to these records.

Auditing a Class
Auditors are permitted only in a limited number of courses. Students regularly registered at The College may apply to the relevant dean/executive director for permission to attend classes as auditors.

Applicants may be approved to attend classes as auditors under the following conditions only if space is available in the class. Normally, auditors are not admitted until the close of registration in a course. Regular credit students are given priority over auditors.

Auditors are accepted in classes with the following understanding:
  1. Auditors are not required to turn in any papers.
  2. Auditors are not permitted to take any examinations.
  3. No grade or credit is given.
  4. No transfer from audit to credit status or the reverse is permitted.

Course Repeats
Students may repeat any College of The Bahamas course, including courses from which they have withdrawn. If a course is repeated, the highest grade achieved will be used to compute the GPA. The series of repeats and grades is retained on the student's academic record (transcript).

Students may repeat a course if it has been approved by Academic Board for repeat credit. This applies to courses designated as 'May be repeated for credit' in the College of The Bahamas Catalogue, which also lists the maximum credit limitation or the maximum number of times a course may be repeated for credit.

A student who fails a course three times must seek permission to repeat the course by submitting a Request to Repeat a Failed Course Form to the relevant academic dean/executive director through the chair/academic unit head.

A student who is given permission to repeat a failed course may be required to take and pass the course prerequisite before attempting the course for the fourth time or may be required to complete remedial work or engage in peer tutoring or supplemental instruction.

The series of repeats and grades is retained on the student's academic record (transcript).

Extraordinary Examination
The "XE" is a temporary notation assigned by the Records Department following approval of a request for an extraordinary sitting of a final examination and payment of the requisite fee.

Students may request an extraordinary sitting of a final examination if they were in hospital on the day of the original examination; can produce medical certification attesting to illness and confinement to bed on the day of or at least two days prior to the day of the original examination; or suffered a death in their immediate family (that is, parents, legal guardian, spouse, children or siblings) on the day of or the day immediately prior to the original examination.

Students must submit a Request for Extraordinary Sitting of Final Examination form to the relevant academic dean/executive director through the chair/head of the examining academic unit and forward the completed form along with proof of payment of the requisite fee to the Records Department.

Normally, an extraordinary examination must be sat no later than the next regularly scheduled examination period for the course.

Academic Complaints
Students with complaints about instruction or in-semester grading should refer them first to the course Instructor.

If the student and the course Instructor are unable to resolve the complaint, the student may meet with the chair/head of the academic unit responsible for the course and may submit a completed Academic Complaint Form to that College official prior to the end of the last day of classes or the submission of final grades. The chair/academic head's written decision will be rendered within 5 working days.

Within a further 5 working days, the student and/or the course instructor may appeal by forwarding a copy of the Academic Complaint Form, the decision and the resolution being sought to the relevant academic dean/executive director. The academic dean/executive director's written decision will be rendered within 10 working days and is final.

CONTINUANCE, ACADEMIC PROBATION AND SUSPENSION
The probation and suspension policies of The College of The Bahamas are based upon the philosophy that the College has an obligation to assist students who, due to unsatisfactory academic performance, may experience difficulty in realising their potential. Specifically, probation and suspension procedures are concerned with:
  1. Protecting students from prolonged unsatisfactory performance which might result in forfeiting their opportunity ever to earn a college degree or diploma at The College of The Bahamas or elsewhere; and
  2. Helping students re-evaluate their strengths and weaknesses in selecting a programme of study which is in relative harmony with their interests, aptitudes and needs.

All students are required to maintain at least a minimum cumulative GPA as set forth in the chart following. A student who fails to meet these standards in any given semester will be placed on academic probation, unless extenuating circumstances are considered by The College to be sufficiently serious to justify a temporary postponement of this action.

CREDITS     CUMULATIVE GPA
0-18     1.75
19-21     1.80
22-24     1.82
25-27     1.83
28-30     1.85
31-33     1.86
34-36     1.88
37-39     1.89
40-42     1.91
43-45     1.92
46-48     1.94
49-51     1.95
52-54     1.97
55-57     1.98
58-60     2.00
61 and over     2.00

Requirements while on Academic Probation
A student on probation is required to meet periodically with a faculty advisor or counsellor to review his/her academic progress.

A student on probation will be assigned to a restricted programme of study as follows:
Full-time attendance during a regular semester - maximum of nine credits. Full-time attendance during a summer session - maximum of three credits.

Part-time attendance during a semester or summer session - maximum of three credits.
Students on probation have the obligation to demonstrate by academic performance that they have the ability and the desire necessary to profit from the instructional programme, and are making progress toward achieving an educational goal.

In order to protect students who are academically deficient from becoming too heavily involved in extracurricular activities, students placed on academic probation will be considered ineligible to hold office in student organisations, the student government, or participate in intercollegiate activities or the work- study programme.

A student will be removed from academic probation if he/she achieves the minimum cumulative GPA as required.

Academic Suspension
Any student who does not achieve a minimum cumulative GPA for two consecutive semesters will be placed on academic suspension. A student on suspension may be required to leave The College for a specified period of time.

A student who is readmitted after suspension will be on probation and given the option of starting afresh in a new programme or continuing with his/her old programme. In either case, the old cumulative GPA will be maintained.

A student who is readmitted after suspension will not normally be allowed to proceed with any new courses until 'F' and 'D' grades have been improved where necessary.

Any student who, after returning from a period of suspension, does not achieve a minimum semester GPA of 2.00 for the semester immediately following the readmission, will be expelled from The College.

A student who has been expelled from The College will only be considered for re-admission to The College after a period of three years, and must provide evidence of suitability for re-admission.

Students will only be considered for re-admission for the Spring or Fall semesters.

Graduation Requirements
To fulfil graduation requirements, a student must achieve a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.00 and a GPA of 2.00 in major area courses and pass all courses in the programme. Additionally, students must fulfil all requirements as outlined on their Academic Board-approved Contract of Study.

Students must complete the Application for Graduation and pay all requisite fees.

EXAMINATIONS
The conduct of examinations conform with the following regulations and the decision of the Academic Board under the overall joint administrative control of the relevant Dean.

General Examination Regulations
Examination Timetable>
The dates of the final examinations period are outlined in The College Calendar.

The final version of the examination timetable in respect of written examinations is published for the benefit of all persons concerned at least three weeks in advance of any examination included therein and one and a half weeks for the Summer Session.

There is only a single sitting for each final examination and only one final examination for each course and the location of examination is determined by the Director of Testing Services in consultation with the relevant school.

Attendance and Absences
If the attendance at or the performance of a candidate in any part of any examination is likely to have been affected by factors of which the examiners have no knowledge, the candidate may report the circumstances in writing to the chair/unit head who will the report same to the relevant dean/executive director. If the candidate decides to report such circumstances, he/she must do so within five working days of the examination which may have been affected.

A make-up examination may only be arranged for a student who:
  1. is hospitalised on the day of the original examination;
  2. can produce medical certification that he/she was ill and confined to bed on the day of the examination;
  3. suffers a death in his/her immediate family (i.e. parents, guardian, spouse, children or siblings) immediately before or on the day of the examination;
  4. experiences other extenuating circumstances, to be considered on an individual basis by the relevant dean.
Where a student is unable to submit a medical certificate personally, this may be done on the student's behalf within the prescribed time.

The make-up examination must be taken at the earliest convenient date/time and not later than the following examination period.

Students must submit a Request For Extraordinary Sitting of Final Examination Form to the academic dean/ executive director through the chair/head of the examining academic unit and take the completed form along with proof of payment of the $75.00 fee to the Records Department, no later than 5 working days after the day of the original examination.

Special Arrangements
Any student who, for reason of permanent or temporary incapacity, desires special arrangements during examinations should apply to the relevant dean/executive director through the chair/academic unit head. The arrangements desired should be specified and the dean/executive director may require a medical certificate as proof of such incapacity. Such students will not be given extra time in which to write. The dean/executive director is required to inform the Board of Examiners of the circumstances under which the examination was performed.

Any secretarial assistance provided to handicapped or incapacitated students must be approved by the dean/executive director.

Examination Type
All examinations are conducted by means of one or more of the following:-
  1. written examinations
  2. oral examinations
  3. practical examinations

To aid invigilation, each examination must be identified by one of the following type codes, indicating aids which students may use when writing the types of examinations noted.

Code     Type     Aids Permitted
R     Regular     Drawing devices without cases;
     Slide Rules without cases; Calculators
S     Special     Any aid permitted by the examiner and recorded in the
     'Instructions' area of the question paper
O     Open
    book
    Any aid the student wishes to use

CONDUCT OF WRITTEN EXAMINATIONS
Instructions to Candidates taking Written Examinations:
Students are required to take responsibility for knowing the dates, times and locations of all examinations for courses for which they are registered.

Students who are timetabled for more than two examinations in one day should consult the relevant academic dean/executive director.

Students with a clash in their examination schedule should inform the relevant academic dean/executive director as soon as the clash is discovered.

Students should arrive at the examination room and present their College of The Bahamas ID card or other valid substitute (for example, a passport) at the door at least fifteen minutes before the scheduled time of the examination.

Students who arrive late will not be allowed additional time to complete the examination.

Students who arrive more than half an hour late will be allowed to take the examination. However, their scripts / practical work will only be marked if they can satisfy the relevant dean/executive director as to the validity of their reason for being late.

Students are responsible for providing pens, pencils, rulers, erasers, geometrical instruments and any other aid authorised by the examiner. No other documents will be allowed in the examination room.

Students must deposit handbags, briefcases and other such materials at the Invigilator's desk (or other designated area) before the start of the examination.

Students must write their name and student number at the top of every answer paper or sheet of paper which is submitted.

Students must stop writing at the end of the examination when instructed to do so by the Chief Invigilator.

Students must gather their answer papers and place them in order at the end of the examination. They will not leave their desks until all scripts have been collected and the Chief Invigilator has given permission to leave.

Leave from the Examination Room
No students will be allowed to leave the examination room during the first half hour or the last half hour of the examination.

The Chief Invigilator may permit students to leave the examination room after the first half hour and return, during the course of the examination, provided they have been under continuous supervision of a designated member of staff/faculty.

Collaboration between Students
Students must not directly or indirectly use or give assistance to or accept assistance from any other student. No form of cheating is permitted.

BOARD OF EXAMINATIONS AND APPEALS
Any formal complaint which a student may make in connection with his/her examination must be referred to the relevant dean/executive director.

The Board for Examinations and Appeals is a standing committee of the Academic Board and is responsible for considering and recommending to the Academic Board appropriate action on all matters relating to the examinations, grade appeals and academic discipline.

Grade appeals should be made to the relevant dean on the form prescribed within four weeks of the official notification of grades. Late application may be considered at the discretion of the Chair of the Board of Appeals in consultation with the relevant dean/executive director.

A fee of $100.00 will be charged for each grade appeal. If the appeal is successful the fee will be refunded.

A review by the Board must normally be held not later than four weeks after the appeal is made.

The Vice President of Academic Affairs is required to provide the Board with the student's application for review, the relevant scripts and mark sheets and a list of all the cross moderators for the course concerned. In the event that an applicant's script has been sent to the external examiner, the Vice President must immediately ask that it be returned without delay.
The membership of the Board of Examinations and Appeals is constituted as follows:
  1. the Vice President of Academic Affairs, Chair
  2. the relevant dean/executive director
  3. three chairs/academic unit heads or their nominees, one of whom shall be from the unit in which the course is offered
  4. the President of COBUS, or his/her nominee
  5. Vice President of Student Affairs or his/her nominee as Secretary

The quorum for a meeting of the Review Board consists of
  1. the Chair
  2. two chairs/academic unit heads or their nominees, one of whom must be representative of the unit from which the course is offered
  3. the President of COBUS, or his/her nominee;
  4. the Secretary.

The Review Board may not decide on a remarking of the Examination script(s)

If the Board, after full consideration of all the circumstances and the available evidence, is satisfied that there are adequate reasons to justify a re-marking;

If the Review Board requires a remarking of the examination script(s) then,
  1. the Chair of the Review Board will arrange, normally in consultation with the chair/head of the academic unit responsible for the course concerned, for each script to be re-marked by at least one new examiner of The College or by an external examiner;
  2. the Chair of the School concerned will provide the new examiner with all relevant documents such as mark sheets, marking schemes, and question papers;
  3. the results of the marking will be conveyed through the Board of Examiners and Appeals by the Vice President of Academic Affairs.

The Chair of the Board will inform the candidate and all relevant persons of the Board's decision as soon as possible after the meeting of the Board. The decision of this Board is final.

CHALLENGE EXAMINATIONS
The purpose of this policy is to set out approved procedures for a Challenge Examination for students who might qualify to receive credits for a course at The College, but who might have acquired knowledge in a particular subject by virtue of formal education at an institution not accredited or recognised by the College, or by relevant work experience.

Credits to be awarded by Challenge Examination (credit by examination) will normally only be given if applied for at the time of admission to The College of The Bahamas or to a programme. Other requests will be considered on a case by case basis.

Students who possess certificates such as GCE 'O' level, BGCSE, Pitman, etc., and who apply for exemption through a challenge examination will be required to sit an examination in each of the specific courses.

A maximum of 50% of the required credits for any programme may be obtained by challenge examinations. Only 50% of the major may be obtained through the challenge examinations.

Applicants for a Challenge Examination will be required to pay an approved fee for writing the examination.

Students who pass Challenge Examinations will be required to register and pay the approved fees of the courses challenged before credits for these courses will be awarded.

Normally, the chair/head of the academic unit will arrange the Challenge Examination prior to the start of classes.

A Pass (P) grade only is awarded for succeeding in a Challenge Examination.

A student who receives credits for a course on the basis of his performance in a Challenge Examination will also be given credits for the prerequisite courses. No fees will be charged for such credits.

PROCEDURES FOR CHALLENGE EXAMINATION
Students must apply, on the approved form, to the Vice President of Academic Affairs through the chair/head or the academic unit concerned, for any Challenge Examination.

Students must provide relevant documentation to support this request, for example, a transcript or course description.

Students must pay the approved examination fee and, if successful, the required credit value fee.

The approval for any challenge examination must be given by the relevant dean/executive director.

The academic unit will administer the required examinations, including demonstration, and record results.

If credit is to be awarded, a copy of the examination form with the grade should be submitted to the Academic Affairs Office by the chair/head of unit.

PLAGIARISM
The purpose of this policy is to set out approved procedure for dealing with students who are found guilty of plagiarism.

For the purposes of this policy, plagiarism is defined as the unacknowledged use of another person's work.

The College of The Bahamas reserves the right to apply more stringent penalties than set out below, depending on the nature of the offence.

PROCEDURES
First Offence
A student found guilty of plagiarism, in the first instance, will only receive a grade for the original material of the paper or project.

The lecturer will issue a verbal warning to the student and will inform the chair/head of the academic unit, in writing, of the incident.

Second Offence
A student found guilty of plagiarism, in the second instance, will receive an automatic 'F' for the entire paper or project.

The lecturer will inform the academic unit chair/head, in writing, of the incident.

The chair/head will issue a warning, in writing, to the student.

Copies of the lecturer's letter and the chair/head's warning will be forwarded to Student Records for inclusion in the student's file.

Third Offence
A student found guilty of plagiarism for the third time will be expelled by the Vice President of Academic Affairs.

Appeals
A student who is expelled for plagiarism may appeal the expulsion.

Appeals from students will be considered by a committee appointed by the President, which will include the relevant dean/executive director, the Chair concerned, the lecturer concerned, another lecturer from the same subject area and a representative of COBUS.

Decisions of the Appeals Committee will be final and will be forwarded to the student by the Vice President of Academic Affairs.

DIRECTED INDEPENDENT STUDY
Students who have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.00 and who are in their final year of study may petition the relevant dean/executive director through the Chair/Academic Head for permission to take a course by Directed Independent Study (DIS) provided the course
  • is not scheduled, or, if it is scheduled, will be cancelled by The College;
  • fulfils a major area course requirement; and
  • does not require a lab or field trip component.
Normally, students may take no more than one course by Directed Independent Study.

Students must submit a Request for Directed Independent Study along with an up-to-date copy of their Student Advisement Form/Contract of Study to the Dean/executive director through the chair/head of the academic unit responsible for the course.

The Academic Board-approved course outline and a course syllabus inclusive of the weekly scheduled one-on-one conference times will be provided to the student at the beginning of the semester/session.

CONTINUING EDUCATION UNITS
The Continuing Education Unit (CEU) is a unit of measurement for non-credit continuing education courses and programmes delivered through an approved provider. The CEU is designed to document continuing adult education and training experiences that differ from experiences for which academic credits are traditionally awarded. Education and training providers may be the academic institution (The College) itself or professional bodies or agencies who may seek the College's endorsement of programmes or courses they offer. CEUs achieve several aims, but primarily provide a means through which employers and participants can formally document professional development activities; provide justification for salary increases or promotions; and can be applied toward re-certification or on-going licensure requirements within professional organisations.

The College of The Bahamas embraces the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET) definition of the CEU as "ten contact hours of participation in an organised continuing education experience under responsible sponsorship, capable direction and qualified instruction."

For additional information on CEUs contact the director, Continuing Education and Extension Services. Telephone (242) 328-0093.
The College of The Bahamas :: Oakes Field :: P.O. Box N-4912 :: Nassau, The Bahamas :: Tel (242) 302.4300 :: Email cob@cob.edu.bs
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The College of The Bahamas :: Oakes Field :: P.O. Box N-4912 :: Nassau, The Bahamas :: Tel (242) 302.4300 :: Email cob@cob.edu.bs
The College of The Bahamas :: Oakes Field :: P.O. Box N-4912 :: Nassau, The Bahamas :: Tel (242) 302.4300 :: Email cob@cob.edu.bs